Word Study

I broke down and bought a new Bible a couple of weeks ago – online, because it was cheaper – and it graced my little mailbox before the month of April shut its doors on 2014. And what an April it had been, holding among its treasures a deep-felt confession on its first day, a trip to Arkansas within the week, a zoo trip for HeyHey’s birthday, three Rome Braves games, a weekend with my Swazi-best friend before she flies back to that red dirt and those shining little eyes, detours and lessons in Ninja Turtle knowledge, Relay for Life, a wedding, and a kickoff. April never disappoints.I read little in April, but finally cracked the gilded pages of this brick-of-a-Bible in the early sun of May 4th – the sunrise on the Sabbath. I didn’t find much there that ate at my heart the way those words have in the past like Jeremiah digging through that wall, but a few verses hit me with their whisper. I’ll share them:

When I tried to understand all this, it seemed hopeless until I entered God’s sanctuary. – Psalm 73:16-17But as for me, God’s presence is my good. – Psalm 73:28We have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, inHim. – Colossians 1:14

I don’t know why these verses seemed emboldened on Sunday morning, but they warmed me like the sunrise on a cool morning – slowly, but definitely. As the week has progressed, several words in passing conversations around tables or office chairs have stuck the same way so I asked a few friends to help me define them. Here’s what I’ve got:

Consistency

reliable. You know the outcome before it happens. steadfast. pattern.being of the same substance (attitude, performance, actions) from day to day, regardless of circumstances or emotionsloyalty, steadiness, dependable, routinefamiliar, safe

Transition

the grey period of life – change is happening and you see the hope of the immediate future. It’s messy & tiring, but good for you.the process of change leaving one thing for another thing by force or by choiceunknown, changefaith, molding, malleablegrowth, fear

Standard

something you have to live up to – social or spiritualordinarymodel of measurementthe expecteda measurable set of ideals a person is held accountable toexpectation, well-known, understood, basic

Community

family. a group bound together by somethingfellowshipthe people you callsupport, trust, opennessjoy, nearness

Honesty

truth – whether desired or nottrue to yourself othersfree of deceit and manipulationbeing vulnerable in a way that’s edifyingbeauty, love, transparencytrust, faith

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I don’t have a bow. These are just the things I’m muddling through over here on this mountain.